Kyiv Targets Early 2027 EU Chapter Closures
Deputy presidential aide Ihor Zhovkva states Ukraine aims to finalize most accession negotiations by the end of next year.
By Aiko Brooks ·
Ukraine plans to begin closing the first chapters of its European Union accession negotiations in early 2027. Ihor Zhovkva, Deputy Head of the Office of the President, outlined this timeline while addressing the EU Accession Exchange Forum. He stated that Kyiv expects to conclude talks on the majority of remaining chapters by the end of next year.
According to Zhovkva, four negotiating clusters are currently open. He expressed confidence that two additional clusters will open by the end of the current year. Ukraine is currently preparing for the Interim Benchmark Assessment Report, or IBAR. Zhovkva noted that this process allows the country to start closing multiple chapters simultaneously during the first half of 2027.
The official emphasized that Ukraine’s path to membership will proceed in coordination with Moldova. He clarified that the two nations are not in competition despite various reports suggesting otherwise. Zhovkva explained that Ukraine operates under different conditions but maintains a joint trajectory with its neighbor. He described the relationship as moving hand in hand toward the same goal.
Kyiv and the European Commission established a Task Force earlier in the process. This group works to secure approval for draft laws concerning the rule of law and anti-corruption measures. The aim is to finalize these legal frameworks within several months to support the ongoing negotiation schedule.
